In our latest episode of Surrey EconomIQ Insights, we explore the need for sustainable and innovative food solutions in the age of crisis. Join us as we chat with Kevin Meier, the vice-preisdent and general manager of Argus Controls, a company that over the last 40 years has provided plant-centric control and automation systems for the world's most demanding commercial, horticulture, bioscience and specialty crop applications.

The "Big One" has been looming over the heads of British Columbians for decades, but what is the reality of ongoing and future natural disasters in our region? How can cities and residents prepare for these? What are the opportunities for businesses? We chat with Jeri Grant, the co-chair of Great BC ShakeOut; Naomi Yamamoto, president of BC Earthquake Alliance board; Teron Moore, founder of Northwest Seismic Consultants; and Shelley Morris, part of the City of Surrey's Emergency Support Services and assistant fire chief with Surrey Fire Service.

How do we position ourselves to secure permits and accelerate our development process? We sit down with Rémi Dubé, the City of Surrey's Building Division Manager to discuss some permit considerations to streamline approvals and pitfalls to avoid when choosing and developing a site for a business expansion or relocation. Plus, hear some of the unfortunate permitting stories of developments gone wrong.

Simon Fraser University's School of Sustainable Engineering made it's debut as a first-of-its-kind program in Western Canada in 2019 and, this fall, they will be graduating their first cohort. Join us as we sit down with Kevin Oldknow, Director of the program, to discuss the types of talent that are emerging from this program, their passions for tackling some of the world's most pressing sustainability problems, and how the program itself is evolving into the future.

South Korea is in the process of creating the world's first metaverse city, planting the seeds for a metaverse ecosystem called "Metaverse Seoul". Join us as we sit down with Jihyun Kim, Director of the Seoul Convention Bureau and a member of the Metaverse Seoul team to get some insights on their vision for how metaverse technologies can enhance the services the city can deliver to residents.

What is the metaverse? In which metaverse do business opportunities lie? How can businesses take advantage? Should they, or is the whole topic over-hyped? We sit down with Michael Gord, Co-Founder and COO of the Metaverse Group to get some answers to these questions, exploring the metaverse's current and potential impacts on inudstry with the first and leading vertically integrated real estate company fcocused on the metaverse economy.

With 31-year record high inflation rates coinciding with Metro Vancouver industrial land scarcity, expanding businesses are facing a question of whether buying or leasing is the best path forward. We invite Ed Michielsen, Vice President of Business Banking and Leasing with Prospera Credit Union to provide his insights in light of these uncertain times.

The missing middle - young families looking to establish roots - are an attractive demographic of talent for businesses and the latest census data provides some clarity as to where these people are increasingly found. Join us as we sit down with Andy Yan, Director of the City Program at Simon Fraser University on where this early career demographic is choosing to live and why, as well as how businesses are starting to respond.

Boosting agritech innovations to strengthen food security has been a major topic of discussion as global supply chain challenges are felt at local grocery stores. Pacific Economic Development Canada has recently invested $10 million into Simon Fraser University's AGtech Innovation Sandbox (AGIS), which brings together multiple regional academic institutions, government and industry to support businesses in scaling-up and commercialzing agritech innovations. Hear from Sylvain Moreno, AGIS's scientific director and a regional innovation leader, on how this program will be breaking barriers to bring new game-changing technologies to market and create quality jobs.

The last few years have seen us experiencing a fair share of emergencies, from the COVID-19 pandemic to flood-inducing atmospheric rivers and wildfires. Join us as we gain unique insights on how businesses can participate in building community resiliency for these crises. In this podcast, we welcome Shelley Morris, Assistant Fire Chief with the City of Surrey for her local emergency preparedness perspective, as well as Andrew Wynn-Williams, Divisional Vice President of BC for the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, who provides insights from BC manufacturing businesses.

As the world vies to produce more electric vehicles in light of historic high gas prices, we sit down with Dominique Kwong, Co-Founder and COO of Damon Motors to get a peek into the mind behind the vision of the world's smartest and safest electric motorcycles. Join us as we discuss the challenges and opportunities in the electric vehicle manufacturing space and what is necessary in developing an electric vehicle ecosystem in Canada.

What business trends are shaping the region and how is it effecting company growth and relocation? Join us as we sit down with Ed Michielsen, Vice President of Business Banking and Leasing with Prospera Credit Union, one of Canada's largest credit unions. We discuss the key trends Prospera is seeing, as well as the driving forces are shaping business location decisions, including their own headquarters.

What does the latest census tell us about where migration is happening in the Metro Vancouver region? Join us as we discuss with Andy Yan, Director of the City Program at Simon Fraser University on who is moving, where they're moving, why they're moving, and why you should care.Follow Andy Yan:Twitter, LinkedIn, UBC, SFU